Elena Renken

With self-generated gradients of chemicals and physical tension, cells in the body steer themselves to vital destinations.

A painstaking study of wing morphology shows both the striking uniformity of individuals in a species and a subtle pattern of linked variations that evolution can exploit.

The mechanism behind leopard spots and zebra stripes also appears to explain the patterned growth of a bismuth crystal, extending Alan Turing’s 1952 idea to the atomic scale.

A temporal pattern of activity observed in human brains may explain how we can learn so quickly.

A newfound hub of immune system activity at the back of the brain solves a century-old puzzle.

A glass sponge found deep in the Pacific shows a remarkable ability to withstand compression and bending, on top of the sponge’s other unusual properties.

In three bursts of adaptive change, one species of cichlid fish in Lake Tanganyika gave rise to hundreds.

Researchers see structural changes in genetic material that allow memories to strengthen when remembered.

The glial cells of the nervous system have been eclipsed in importance by neurons for decades. But glia are turning out to be central to many neurological functions, including pain perception.